Vermont Afterschool is proud to be part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through OST programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot is an initiative of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot seeks to re-imagine who can engineer, who can build, who can make. See below for some information and resources that can help advance this goal!
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Every year on April 25 since 2003, scientists, biologists, and genetics enthusiasts come together to observe National DNA Day, celebrating the discovery and research into DNA and the scientific advancements that helped make progress possible. National DNA Day encourages people to learn more about the science that makes them genetically unique. Help youth feel unique and special with the following resources to use all month long!
DNA Day
- As a part of Illumina’s The Future is Bright Campaign celebrating DNA Day, Million Girls Moonshot is partnering to provide a number of resources for programs to celebrate DNA day! Featured opportunities include a Virtual Lab Simulation; a Virtual Field trip; and DNA Decoded, ready to go, lessons and activities for educators!
- 23 and Me Educator Resources – Find a list of picture books on DNA and more information about the 23andMe Education Program, which is designed to support and advanced genetics education. Educators and students will receive important updates from the 23andMe Education team about new educational resources, events, programs, and opportunities to engage with 23andMe.
- Teach Engineering Lesson Plan: DNA – In this lesson for grades 5-7, students work through an example showing how DNA provides the “recipe” for making human body proteins. Students will learn ways that engineers and scientists are applying their understanding of DNA in our world.
More Resources
- Afterschool Math Plus training series – Beginning Thursday, April 18 (1:00-2:00 PM), MGM is launching a monthly series of FREE curriculum trainings for afterschool providers. For a description of each training and to register for individual trainings, click here.
- Click2CS Virtual Workshop: Supporting Productive Failure – Knowing how to help youth see how failure can be productive is critical for developing an engineering mindset. Join this virtual workshop to learn how you can create learning experiences that support youth and help them persist through their frustration and learn from failures. By engaging in authentic engineering work, youth develop engineering identities and the mindset to solve problems and change the world. Click here to register for the April 26 (3:00-4:00 PM) workshop.
